What happen's if I fly a blue or a white ensign?

A1Sailor said:
Does it apply to Retired Officers of the RN? :D
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They will all be too busy doing something useful. The hundreds still in blue suits and trying to look busy while commanding desks will no doubt be deployed to ensign patrol as soon as Their Lordships read these forums and realise what a hotbed of ensign impersonation lurks therein.
 
Grumpybear said:
They will all be too busy doing something useful. The hundreds still in blue suits and trying to look busy while commanding desks will no doubt be deployed to ensign patrol as soon as Their Lordships read these forums and realise what a hotbed of ensign impersonation lurks therein.
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Having served Queen and Country and hence entitled to fly an undefaced blue, assuming the correct permit is carried, I suspect they would look poorly on imposters.
 
A1Sailor said:
Having served Queen and Country and hence entitled to fly an undefaced blue, assuming the correct permit is carried, I suspect they would look poorly on imposters.
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Quite rightly too. It's all about maintaining standards and not dumbing everything down, al la BBC, to the lowest common denominator.
 
A1Sailor said:
Having served Queen and Country and hence entitled to fly an undefaced blue, assuming the correct permit is carried, I suspect they would look poorly on imposters.
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Only if they are also members of RNSA and have applied for and recieved an appropriate warrant. The same rules apply to us as ordinary mortals.
 
A1Sailor said:
Having served Queen and Country and hence entitled to fly an undefaced blue, assuming the correct permit is carried, I suspect they would look poorly on imposters.
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I am in the same position, but I don't really share your confidence. The fact that the whole ensign permit thing has been outsourced to the RYA suggest to me that on this issue the Secretary of State's T shirt reads DILLIGAF.
 
A small number of years ago, not more than ten I suspect, a friend of mine had a reason to board a merchant vessel in his normal capacity of work.

He found the British vessel had a Russian Master who had hoisted a blue ensign that he, the Master, had found onboard; assuming the blue ensign was the normal one.

The vessel had actually served in the Falklands campaign in bomb alley and had correctly worn that ensign during that event, it was marked accordingly.

Having pointed out to the Master the liabilities he had acquired by flying it, my colleague decided to assist him and seized the ensign; in his capacity as a serving naval officer, to prevent it being flown when not permitted.

He now has the ‘souvenir’ battle ensign from that vessel, held at home for Her Majesty should she ever decide to collect it.

He is like a dog with two tails since he has saved a small piece of history and he loves to show it to those who will appreciate it.

It is still only a piece of blue cloth, but it carries deep significance to some.

Note: No names. no pack drill!
 
I'd quite like one of those white ensign thingies, but I want to be legal so I had a look at the Royal Yacht Squadron website. Amazingly, I couldn't find a page on the site with an online membership form so that I can join up. In fact, I couldn't find any joining instructions at all. I reckon they will do me a discount on my year 1 subs when I offer to sort out their eCommerce to expand their membership.

Geeeet yer white ensigns here!
 
If your boat is unrgistered, and your a uk citizen, in uk waters, then you can fly watever colour you want.

In cornwall commercial operators regularly fly some hodge podge...
 
All this false ensign wearing is for wimps.

The OP should buy an SAS Regimental Tie online then hang around outside the Special Forces Club.

Of course, it is not illegal to wear the tie. You can tell them that through what remains of your teeth!
 
photodog said:
If your boat is unrgistered, and your a uk citizen, in uk waters, then you can fly watever colour you want.

In cornwall commercial operators regularly fly some hodge podge...
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Could you expand on that a little?:)
 
Colours

When I was Queen's Harbour Master at Gibraltar, I occasionally boarded a ship or yacht, flying the incorrect ensign (very often they were using the union flag). Generally, I took with me a correct or appropriate ensign and gave it to the ship to replace the incorrect one being shown.
On the only difficult case, the master was arrested and taken before the Giraltar court, and only released when the ship's agent accepted the result and paid the fine. In those days maximum fine was £500, and this man was fined £50.
I did this as seldom as possible as it entailed getting my sword out of the wardrobe.
Before 1960, if any warship came up with any vessel flying a special ensign, an officer of the guard would be sent to board and inspect the ship's papers etc.
This died out in about 1960 when half the megayachts were registered in the Channel Islands and it became too much trouble.
 
chinita said:
All this false ensign wearing is for wimps.

The OP should buy an SAS Regimental Tie online then hang around outside the Special Forces Club.

Of course, it is not illegal to wear the tie. You can tell them that through what remains of your teeth!
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Ah. I see..
It's not OK to wear a flag or tie your not entitled to but quite alright for someone to assault you for doing so.
 
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